India Allsopp (or was it Kirstie Knight?) recently wrote about putting one's relationship with husband/partner first, followed by that with the children: the couple are the cornerstone and unless that relationship comes first, the edifice will crumble. In short, adult time is essential to keep everything together. For me, the idea of eating tea with my 1, 2 and 6yo is not that appealing - too much spilt juice and nursery food - and I love that the currently non-bearded husband and I have 'grown-up' time in the evening (oh, stop). Maybe we'll all eat together when the children are older. And can cook. Sometimes though, I find myself in a culinary cul-de-sac so was very happy when a friend recommended Crumbs: a website with recipes for children and adults written by two sisters/mothers. I'm going to write a few wine recommendations for their site and they'll do a few recipes just for us. And together, we'll make the world a better place. For now, back to what I know.
This week's white in the fridge: Nederburg Chardonnay/Viognier 2009, £4.29 currently on offer, Waitrose
South Africa used to make me think of Mandela. Now it makes me think of that effing droning noise we had to put up with during the World Cup. Oh, and Naomi Campbell and her blood diamonds dirty little stones. However, most of all it is a country that makes me think of wine. Good ones at that, often underrated. This one is really good value, a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier grapes: slighty chubby but just what I felt like after too much Sauvignon. Melon, peach and a twist of lemon. Veh gud.
This week's red on the side: Herrick Shiraz, 2009, £5, Tesco Wine Club
This wine makes me want to put on Now That's What I Call Music 8 and pass round the After Eights because I seem to remember this brand from the late 80's (which is a worry, I was in my mid teens and should definitely have been more into cider and/or cheap spirits, not wine). Anyhoo, Herrick is an Australian-looking wine from the South of France and was one of the first New World style wines from the Old World made by a flying winemaker. Still lovely, this is a juicy, blackcurrant-flavoured wine with smooth edges. Quaffed with a rather magnificent but very easy (adult) supper cooked this evening, thanks to inspiration from Crumbs.
Cheers dears xLabels: 2009, Chardonnay, France, Shiraz, South Africa, Tesco, Viognier, Waitrose